This Abdul we are "Nailed On" to sign,
Would that be the illusive running line breaking halfback Abdul ? (because we already have a creative halfback)
Or maybe it's the strong tackling, ball carrying centre Jordan Abdul.
Could it be the 3rd pivot, line running fullback Abdul ? or maybe he's an 80 minute hooker now ?


Let's remember his reason for leaving the Dullers is he cannot get regular 1st team rugby.

Does anyone see him as first choice in any position for us ?

Agree with all you have said BitonRobin. Would like to think we are setting our sights a little higher than Jordan. On another note, I see Kopczak has been sold to a rival club, would Rovers fans welcome him?

It's a tough one isn't it. Most of us were calling for him to be signed up after his loan season in the Championship. And just because he was only good in the Championship doesn't mean that he can't hack it in the SL (not sure what went on at FC but injury certainly hasn't helped). First and foremost he's only going to come if more or less guaranteed a 1st team place otherwise why would he leave? I agree though, I'm not sure he'll add any value other than an ok backup to the current squad.

No one can be guaranteed a 1st team place however good they have been in the past. There are too many imponderables. I cannot see him being able to sign for any SL team if he insists on that condition.

to be fair, he was flying for Hull a couple of years a go before injury. He isn't going to get in above the 3 HB's they have got so although surplus to requirements doesn't mean we shouldn't look at him. In a salaried capped sport players will always be surplus to requirement if we didn't try to sign them we wouldn't have a team.

I would rather sign a specialist, but he would provide some cover and provide utility value if you still wanted maguire and atkin as starting half backs. Worth a punt in my eyes don't expect his salary would be huge either

In 2017 Jordan had a very good season for us in the Championship, Sheen's got the best out of him, got him fitter then he had been previously and even managed to utilise him in different potions with some success.
2018 Radford played him in a method that suited his teams style but he couldn't adapt so was sent to Donny.

Does that reflect on Abdul been unable to play to a teams structure or Radford's failure to coach ?

Either way if he's prepared to knuckle down, get fit, listen and learn from what is posibly the most experienced coach in the northern hemisphere, he could be worth a punt. But not if he still believes his own (our his agents) publicity.
He could have a long and fruitful carrier, but not in front of Atkin & Maguire at the moment.

Is abdull playing in a loose forward/playmaker role a possibility,always struck me that position would suit him,obviously tackling would possibly be a weakness.As a matter of interest,kavanagh signed for halifax.

No news yet on either Tim Sheens extending his contract, or Blair or Carney(if they are staying or going) which is a bit of a concern.
Plus other clubs seem to be making signings and strengthening, but as yet it,s very very quiet for us. I,m not counting the three we know about as has already been mentioned they were made public after the Widnes game.
The question is how many teams do we currently seem stronger than, and at the moment I think the answer is not many, London maybe, but who else?. TWP, a Championship side, make six signings (including Thomson) who we were apparently looking at, and admittedly Canada must be an attractive option, but are we being outbid?
It,s been said we want quality over quantity, easy said, but admittedly not easy to get, but I am uncomfortable with the deathly silence, maybe I am been impatient.
Really hope we have some coming. getting thoroughly fed up of battling near the bottom, especially when some other teams have a smaller support base and seem to prosper.
I suppose we have no option but to trust the club, but some positive news would be welcome.
Maybe I am just being a miserable old timer, but I have been lucky to see our good times, but that was a long long time ago.
I want them back!

I would be very disappointed if we signed carney,past his best and plenty of fitness issues among other things and imo a total waste of a quota spot,but as you say no news either way,so patience is a virtue i suppose.

I hope we get Abdul. Quality player. Our second best behind Lunt n his season here. Broke his leg then played in a shambles of a side for the last dozen games. Still set up their scores in the derby. Great option to have in any squad. Halves are not easy to come by and he has a good future in front of him.
On other signings we appear to be doing the same as last year. Appear to be being used and outbid for players. Don't appear to have anything concrete sorted and look like picking up the left overs. Could have 4 overseas spots. If we had anything in the bag would Blair and Carney still be being talked about....looking grim at this point.

I simply don't think that we have genuine ambitions to challenge the top sides. NH enjoys getting column inches with negative soundbites like the game is withering on the vine and foundations of sand plus handbags comments about other chairmen. However nothing solid and positive about OUR club and direction - marquee signings, more investment in back room, Peacock's achievements and aims of our reserve grade and plans. It would be refreshing to hear exactly what the Board see us as because I don't see anything other than survival and a couple of Derby wins on our wish list for next year.

We have released at least 9 players maybe more depending on Blair and T Carney plus Heffernan and J Carney gone and Quinlan injured. Our only signings so far from other qualifier clubs.

I think we will have some signings up our sleeves but they need to be big names like when we had the set your alarm announcement a few years ago.

In previous years the benefits of leaving recruitment later have been mentioned on occasion. If you’ve allocated your budget and somebody comes available, you miss that chance. Those players are in a weaker negotiating position because they have fewer options, and if you can save a couple of months wages for a small handful of players that frees up money to be spent elsewhere.

On the other hand, you’d like players to join preseason training sooner rather than later, especially those most important to the playing structure, and we’ve equally heard that delayed recruitment owing to the uncertainty of being in the 8s has been problematic. Also, for all that they both turned out to be excellent signings in their own ways, the announcement of Tickle and Vaivai was a sobering moment - gambles can pay off, but that’s all you’re maybe going to get as we get closer and into 2019.

Ateotd, Sheens seemed to have pretty clear idea of what he needs in his recent radio interview, and while getting it may be difficult there are advantages to a slower, more considered approach. Although we released 9, some were definitely from the homegrown fringes of the squad and will be replaced by academy graduates. With 3 new players already confirmed, it is only maybe 3 or 4 more that we need, and we need to get them right. My hope is that a couple are the type that make people sit up and take notice, as statements of intent - no idea where we find them, unfortunately.

Jesus Zook why so negative?

What are you expecting next year. We are not going to go from promotion, to surviving to top 4 in 3 years are we. However idealistic that sounds it’s not realistic. The aim of the club is to continue growing year on year and improving year on year. We aren’t a rich club, we aren’t one of the top 4 and fishing in the same small pool of players makes it difficult. Regardless of who we sign this pre season the biggest signings we have done in years is to sign up our young talent on long deals, that’s how we will progress but it’s not a quick fix.

Set your alarm clocks folks, massive signing! It’s Willie Mason!! That went well.

Signing names and big players for the sake of a name is not how recruitment is done. Look at Toronto this year achieved nothing. If TS signs players who he thinks brings value to the team then I will trust his judgement not exactly been wrong so far as he. This expectation of unreal signings with the mentioned factors and not forgetting a weak exchange rate nowadays is just pie in the sky ultimately.

Konrad Hurrell is a good signing, but let’s not pretend he’s a susperstar of the game similar to how players of previous years such as Lyon, Ridley, johns etc were when they signed

Don’t understand some of the negativity on here. I looked on TS appointment as a new beginning. The aim in the first season was promotion. That was achieved without the million pound game. The aim in his second season was SL survival. That again was achieved without the million pound game. Finishing tenth in the regular season showed progress and I don’t think realistically a promoted club could expect more than that. Who knows what the future holds but I would hope to get into the top eight and therefore show further progress.

Toronto and others before them have shown you cannot just buy success, you need good foundations, a good team spirit and a willingness to play for each other not just a team of individual good players.

I believe TS has a vision of our future and think that his achievements over his first two seasons entitle him to our support and trust in 2019. Time will tell.